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Q. How do I run multiple instances of F@H 5.x console client on a multi-core CPU?
A.

1) Create a new folder for each instance of F@H you want to run. I recommend putting them in the "Program Files" or "Program Files (x86)" (if available) directory as they will create a mess of files and will not need to be tampered with after they are running.
2) Place an executable in each of the folders.
3) Create a shortcut to each one and place them where you can find them.
4) In each short cut, you need to add a space followed by "-local" (without quotes) in the target line. For example:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Folding @ Home 1\FAH504-Console.exe" -local

5) Run the shortcuts each time making sure to say "yes" to configurating advanced options and give each instance a unique process number (1-8). It is also recommend to install these as a service so they will run whenever the computer is running.

Q. What are the step-by-step instructions to configuring F@H 5.x console client?
A.

Follow the instructions in the above response if you want to run more than one instance for multiple cores. Otherwise, just move the executable to a directory where it can stay and proceed with the following instructions:

1) Username: The name can be pretty much anything within reason and choose carefully. This is the name the folding system will know you by. For instance, I would enter "FordGT90Concept" without quotes.

2) Team Number: Enter 37576 for HWA. Leave blank if you don't have a team.

3) Install as Service: Installing as a serivce will cause F@H to never show itself again. As such, it will never disturb you directly in the future. I recommend saying yes. You'll get more work done that way.

4) Prompt to send/recieve work: I recommend saying no unless you want to be nagged for some reason (like having a dialup connection).

5) Use Internet Explorer settings: I recommend saying no unless you are on a dialup connection.

6) Use proxy: Say no unless you need to use a proxy in order to connect to the Internet.

7) Allow large work: If your computer is over the top hardware wise (2+ GiB system memory), say yes. Otherwise, say no.

8) Change advanced settings:yes

9) CPU priority:idle is recommended but if you do not want F@H to interfer with what you are doing in any way, key in "low" without quotes.

10) CPU usage: I recommend leaving this at 100 but if there any reason you want to lower it, do so now. It is given as a precentage of the core's processing power.

12) Pause on battery usage: If your computer has a backup battery or is a laptop, say yes. Otherwise, say no. If you are running on battery, F@H could wear down the battery quickly if this is left to no.

13) Interval between checkpoints: Leave at 15 unless you have an issue with frequent interruptions (e.g. brown and black outs).

14) Memory available: I would divide your total amount of memory (in MiB) by how many instances of F@H you intend to run on this computer and use the result. For instance, If I have 8 GiB of memory and 8 cores, I would allocate 1024 MiB for each of the 8 instances of F@H.

If you are only running one instance of F@H, divide the value it suggests (total system memory) by two and use that value. For instance, if it recommends to use 1024 MiB memory, I would tell it to only use 512 MiB.

15) Request work without deadlines: Say no unless you rarely have Internet access or the computer that will be folding is rarely on and connected to the Internet.

17) Ignore deadline information: Say no unless there is something wrong with your system clock.

18) Machine ID: Use 1 unless you are setting up multiple instances of F@H to run on the same computer. If you are setting up multiple instances, each instance of F@H needs a unique number here (1-8).

After you enter the machine ID, it will proceed to find work. Wait until after it says "Entering M.D." to verify everything is going well before restarting the computer. After you restart, it will run as a service so you will no longer see the console you just configured. It should pretty much take care of itself from this point on.

Q. How do I stop the client(s) from running when installed as a service?
A.

You can either alter the startup status of the service or you can simply terminate all the "FAH504-Console.exe" processes using the task manager.

Altering the service
1) Go to Start -> Run.
2) In the box, type "services.msc" and click OK.
3) Scroll down the list of services to "FAH@<path to executable>" and double click it.
4) On the General tab, change "Startup type" from "Automatic" to one of the following:
4a) Automatic - Process starts with the computer.
4b) Manual - Allows the user to start the process as needed.
4c) Disable - Forbids the service to run at all.
5) Restart the computer for the changes to take effect.

Temporarily terminating the process
1) Hold down the Control and Alternate key then press the Delete key to open up the Task Manager.
2) Click on the "Processes" tab.
3) Locate the Image Name "FAH<version>-Console.exe" and click on it to select it.
4) Click on End Process to terminate it. After a few seconds, the associated "FahCore_<#>.exe" will close as well.
5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each running instance of the application. F@H will resume upon restarting the computer.

Q. Will running the client effect my computer's performance?
A.

Generally, no. I have been running it for two-three years and the only times I had to terminate (see above) the processes is when working with Gearcraft/Hammer or some very intensive applications like Mass Effect. Both exhibit poor performance while F@H is running. Most of the time, F@H backs off when something intensive is running so long as you set the priority to low during setup.

________________________If I remember what I forgot, I have not forgotten it.

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I agree. I have well over $1000 USD of processors (excluding all the other hardware) folding, 10 of which are on a 64-bit platform, yet it can't equate one $200 graphics card? Sad...very sad. I can't even make the 8800 GT or 8500 GT fold because they don't have 64-bit drivers yet. I doubt my older X800 XL would ever support folding. Basically the system is screwing those with larger investment (two-way processors, massive banks of memory, etc.) and power costs in favor of single card solutions.

Maybe they need to move away from FPU and more towards 64-bit ALU algorithms. There is far more ALU performance in the world than there is FPU and ALU allows no room for guess work as there is no rounding throughout calculations. Because ALU runs at least one op/clock faster than FPU, it is also significantly faster.

I think Stanford has a lot of pondering to do. I have always been quite unimpressed with their cobble job software. If they expect to make effective use of the home computer, they need to be quick to adapt new technologies like new instruction sets (SSE4) and x86-64. Instead, they focus on PlayStation 3 and GPUs. It almost makes me want to save my clocks for some other project that does value my expenditures.

________________________If I remember what I forgot, I have not forgotten it.

i agree ford. stanford has lost a bit of focus of what this is all about.
i blame nvidia for it. nvidia has big investments in the creation of the new clients and the pointing system.
i soooo wanted to buy an ati 3850 or 4850, i almost ordered it last week.
but it seems to me that nvidia cards are even favored over ati cards.
i had a 2600pro and only came up with 770 PPD vs the 8800gts with 4300-4700 PPD
i know the card is quiet superior to the 2600 and is not really a good comparison but by that much? thats like 6 times as many points per day. i can't get more then 330 PPD with any cpu i have, no matter how many or few instances i run.
way out of alignment

it's the answer that i expected. "thats just how it is" type.
still doesn't explain why the 8800 fairs so much better then the 2600 or why not even a ps3, which has an amazing amount of fpu does not even fair well compared to the 8800.

anyway, BOINC looks better and better. i have been runnin them for a while now too on my own team and maybe will dedicate more time to that as well. at least for the cpu's.

anyway, BOINC looks better and better. i have been runnin them for a while now too on my own team and maybe will dedicate more time to that as well. at least for the cpu's.

I have to agree with that. I think I made some progress with Pande Group. If they don't promise to make changes soon, I'll probably have to switch. I would rather have my comps work for someone that cherishes a contribution--no matter how small. The attitude I'm seeing over there is the stuff WMDs are made of.

________________________If I remember what I forgot, I have not forgotten it.